Entertainment

From crowd favorites to award frontrunners to indie movies, 2016 closed on a high note with movies with some amazing costumes becoming one with the characters sporting them. Informing the characters with fashion choices through the physical self and externalizing it with fashion choicesRead the rest of this entry »

It is that time of the year that we look back on the past year to see who made an impact on fashion, who set trends and who aced it in terms of costumes in movies in Bollywood. From fabulously styled to chameleon character looks transforming the actors, this year Bollywood dabbled in both regional and contemporary themes with its costumes within movies. From looking fab to getting down and dirty, the hindi movies explored it all in a range of movies. While there were many like Neerja and Dangal where the costume meshed so well with the character that you hardly notice it (the best thing a costume designerRead the rest of this entry »

Prepping for Red carpets are no mean feat, some play it safe, classic and minimal, others love to experiment on a whole different level, sometimes leaving people surprised that it could work. This award season was no different where we had our range of celebs dressed to the nines for the big awards night few days after each other, appearing flawless despite making transatlantic journeys. Here’s a rundown of the few of their own red carpet looks.Read the rest of this entry »

Sabyasachi Mukherjee once said that the costumes should never overpower the character and actor. It should meld in so seamlessly that you should hardly notice the clothes. And if the actors are not present, the clothes should be able to tell that narrative within a scene. While many bollywood movies do employ designers, sometimes it is important to have the character take centrestage than the designer. There were some gems in 2015 that did just that.Read the rest of this entry »

While there were compelling stories on big screen this year, A lot of period films made to the forefront. From50s to 20s to mid 1800s from various geographical areas and timezones made this year quite a reflection on the past century of how the fashion has evolved over time. Transformations, character arcs and even playing pivotal roles in stories and narratives, clothing is one of the outer reflections that help judge the audience what the director wants to convey about a certain person on screen.Read the rest of this entry »

Television in 2016 made quite the strides with many series putting their best fashion foot forward. From perspective memory of characters to fantasy to fun working mother to sassy Cookie, the variety within the series lineup was varied, fun, story teller and interesting. The genres too expanded from serious dramas, to horror and fantasy to comedy and thrillers, with relate-able and aspirational wardrobe of some interesting characters.Read the rest of this entry »

So while I did do the Hollywood edition, my love for Bollywood movies forced me to have a similar list of fashion in movies. The clothes add in a certain layer to the movie so much so that if they blend in creating the character and representing the journey throughout the character that is where they win hands down. However these have to be noticeable for their effort to be in sync with the character. Bollywood usually resorts to a lot of glitz and glam, which though not bad (we get to see some fun clothes in credit songs and item numbers) it overpowers the actors. Fashion in movies need to support that act in actors and there were quite a few Filmi Fashun moments this year

DEDH ISHQIYA
When Madhuri the actress takes centrestage, Madhuri the DIVA makes an alluring aura around it. Even with others present, it is just her that you see in the frame Playing a Begum (a woman of aristocratic lineage) Madhuri brings in more than her grace and charm to the character which is styled to perfection in Lucknowi Nawabi (royal) look. Throughout the movie she has donned ghararas, shararas, sarees, anarkalis and churidaars, all in monochrome. Credit goes to Payal Saluja for keeping things interesting by executing the whole look but punctuating it through different silhouettes. Barring her wedding dress which was a mix match of red dupatta, green shirt and offwhite lehenga, Madhuri’s Begum never looks boring in monochrome with a perfectly draped dopatta and an aptly placed jhoomar. Muted Kalamkari, Jamawar and Kashmiri Shawls worn by the elder couple (Naseer and Madhuri) are a delight adding to the antiquity vibe of the movie. Off the fabrics Lucknowi Chikankari makes quite an appearance, in end credits, a beige anarkali number and in one of the saris styled to perfection so beautifully, reminded me of Maharani Gayatri Devi. It looked contemporary south asian vintage at its best.

HAIDER
The moments Madhuri had with Dedh Ishqiya, Tabu had in them in Haider. Adapting Hamlet and that too in a Kashmiri setting, with such cultural baggage, Dolly Allhuwalia had a lot of material to work with. However credit to her for exercising immense control in her designs and costumes for the cast of Haider. She kept things contemporary and conservative at the same time. Representing emotional angst through her clothes, be it Shahid’s Kashmiri pherans (kashmiri kurta/tunic) or having Tabu oscillate between brighter and darker color palettes depending upon the emotional situations. Layered with mens jackets, cardigans, layered uppers and floor tunics. Giving Shraddha a young spunk through florals or giving KK sherwanis, Allhuwalia excelled at playing the dressmaker with playing against the Kashmiri background. Using red and black menacingly in the ending climax sequence, she manages to pull off emotional and mental intensities of characters against the snow laden Kashmir.

KHOOBSURAT
When the fashionista of Bollywood is set to star in a movie, all eyes are on her and Sonam Kapoor did not disappoint at all. Cast as the misfit amongst the royals and aristocrats, the sprightly Mili in Khoobsurat was a perfect contradiction to the polished royal tone with her clash of vibrant hues, prints and bohemian silhouettes. Layered using jackets, with fun tunics and screaming prints, Mili seemed the perfect prodigy of her equally Masaba outfits strutting mom. Fawad as the prince made for the perfect Disney prince with his polished looked whether in suits, bandhgalas or kurta and Aligarh pajamas.

SHAADI KE SIDE EFFECTS
One of the best styled homes that I saw this year in movies had to be undoubtedly from this movie. Playing urban chic to perfection, Vidya balan’s look oscillated between the professional to boho chic with pieces from Dev R Nil, Anand Kabra and others with chunky bangles to offset the whole look. Vidya shows off her curves and does not make them an excuse to drape herself. Clever wardrobe choices and silhouettes from belted dresses to straighter printed kurtas work in her favour. With her makeup done to perfection, whoever said professional working women needed to look over polished. Farhan on the other hand kept it cool, urbane and casual as a musician in tees, and buttoned up shirts.

QUEEN
Probably THE movie of the year, Queen saw Kangana’s character Rani evolve from a shy over protected and timid to come into her own freedom and decisive woman. One of the best performances of Kangana’s career, the clothes with their subtle changes and hints evolve throughout the movie showcasing the journey of this timid one blooming beautifully coming into her own. From sporting shalwar kameez with her wild mane to coming to Paris and encountering Vijaylaxmi opting for kurtis with jeans, peter pan collared tops with floral skirts and ending on a high note with a pastel pleated maxi jamming to the tunes. Who knew we’d spot a Sana Safinaz at the end too.

HIGHWAY
A classic example of Kashmir to Kanyakumari…the unusual road trip movie that spans across wide geographical maps, had Alia Bhatt as Veera and her kidnapper Randeep Hooda as Mahabeer play the protagonists so brilliantly that one forgot the aura they carried off screen. With influences of clothes in every region that they travelled into, the progression of Veera’s outfits was both logical and organic. From donning kurtas and pagris from her sweatpants to oversized pherans, jackets, shalwars and oversized shoes. It all made sense because she was on the go and was kidnapped. Alia looked unconcerned but put together as someone would making the best of with whatever they could find. Aki Narula keeps things simple and evolving subtly. Yet even in those oversized clothes, Alia Bhatt shone brilliantly portraying Stockholm syndrome to a T.

Quite the year that went by, with many movies that gave us some spectacular fashion moments that seem to reprise and echo the past yet transcend boundaries of time. Personally for me, the costumes in any movie need to blend in with the character so much that they become second skin to it; hardly noticable. Yet, One should be able to tell the story via costumes even without the human forms present. The costumes, apart from adding in an extra layer to the character help built it showcasing a characters progression and this year gave us some major fashion in motion picture moments to be excited about.

YVES SAINT LAURENT
When a movie is made on a fashion legend and arguably one of the most youngest rebels in his own right of the last century, it is bound to be included in fashion movie lit. Yves Saint Laurent gave us a journey through the designer’s turbulent life but not without his exquisite and ground breaking works that he gave us while making History in Fashion. With Pierre Bergé, Saint Laurent’s former partner, opening archives for the costume designer Madeline Fontaine, it would have been exciting, nervous and intimidating to work with original pieces for the film for her. From Le Smoking tuxedo to his wedding dress at Dior, the movie showcased it all how the designer brought the sexy, defiance and expressed power through his pieces. Him being one of my favorites, it was awe inspiring to see how Fontaine excelled at the outfits that evoked the charm and the genius that was YVES SAINT LAURENT.

ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE
When you have Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston starring in a movie you know magic is bound to happen. Jim Jarmusch’s eclectic Eve and Rocker Adam, the two glamorous centuries old vampire couples with their love for music, literature, arts and a chilling thirst for blood. Transient yet eclectic Eve manages to pull off embellished Kaftans to minimalist jackets (that white jacket she wore was just epic) defying time, tradition and crossing over cultures with simple silhouettes and clean lines, looking well put together despite her wild mane. Her young lover Adam presented the perfect grungy rock-and-roll vibe as he swooned unconcerned around his home in Detroit in half-unbuttoned dark shirts and bare feet, slim jeans, and lanky black hair. Bina Daigeler successfully managed to erase time from the character’s outlook complimenting the whole timeless setting of the movie Its vintage, dystopic and epitome of casual chic.

MALEFICENT
The Magnificent Maleficent was one of the major moments this year as all eyes were on Angeline with bated breath. The classic Disney villain was brought to life with her side of the story. From her organic roots to her classic black horned badass look that was being anticipated and boy did the designers deliver.. Angelina never looked as badass. Using organic materials like bones and feather to accentuate her outfits, her labradorite stone inspired lenses and the devilish red lip. They used cow leather, sting ray and even ostrich shin leather . The black party crasher look in leather that flowed yet was constructed with that organic shaped collar, was the major highlight. It was brutal, savage and couture. Angelina channelled her deliciously dark diva attitude to perfection and left quite an imprint as the Menacing Maleficent.

BEGIN AGAIN
One of those rare movies where Keira Knightley plays a contemporary character of a singer/songwriter. Her style choices evolve with her character graph from a break up of a long term relationship to establishing herself as an artist. From hipster and rugged choices to bohemian and feminine, the clothes tell a certain story of various points in her life and how she progresses throughout the movie. Adam Levine on the other hand swapped between tees and tunic shirts layering them with plaids and waistcoats and pairing them up with distressed as well as straight skinny jeans.

GONE GIRL
One of the major disappointments that one usually has is how when a book is adapted, the characters are not how they imagined them to be. However I had no such complaints from Gone Girl. The regular not-so-girl-next-door was pretty much bang on styled the way one could perceive so while reading the book. Sunkissed natural makeup, simple pieces, soft colors and quality statements, all of those things made up Amy. While I did have a little trouble imaging Ben Affleck as Nick, but Rosamund Pike nailed Amy. One of the biggest challenge as a stylist and designer for a movie like this is NOT to stand out of the crowd and Trish Summerville (the costume designer), pretty much aces at it. She kept things regular, simple, classic and barely noticeable for the couple.

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR
It’s an Armani Affair for Jessica Chastain playing Anna in A Most Violent Year set in the 1980s. The movie is set out to do for the 80s what American Hustle did for the 70s. Armani worked with director J.C Chandor and costume designer Kasia Walicka-Maimone to provide every single outfit in Anna’s wardrobe. Wearing the brand exclusively throughout the movie, Chastain exudes her inner power woman who takes no shit from anyone. Crepe blouses, wrap trenches, beaded jackets, and plunging bustiers, is the very picture of power. The clothing becomes sort of armour and the way the character dresses. The white wrap trench with sleek bob and red lip.. evocative and powerful.

Ok So while Kick has received mix reviews, one thing that actually stood out when the songs were released was Ms. Jacqueline. While I have never felt much about her, she first came to notice, when LAT LAG GAYI came out and my she literally MOVED in that song. Credit where it is due, she slogged her way and you can see fun she has while on the journey. Sorry to Salman but in this song, she is definitely the scene stealer literally killing it. The nerdy teacher look going all smokin hot in the Dolce and Gabbana lace dress which she nails to a T. The red dress does all kind of favor to her curves and dissing that trench she makes most of the screen time she has lookin fab. To add to the hotness… its red *fans self*